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How can I erase my AIM logs to avoid identity theft?

I typed out my Social Security number while chatting on AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). I immediately knew after I did it that it was a mistake since IM is not secure. My question is, can you show me how to wipe out any trace of my Social Security number from any cookies, logs, or scripts (or anywhere else on my computer and my chat-mate's computer where it may be stored) so that someone cannot get their hands on it? Basically, I'm trying not to be a victim of identity theft. Thanks!

Dave's Answer:

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First off, let me suggest that you take a deep breath and not get overly alarmed about this situation. While transmitting your SSN is not a great idea and while IM isn't secure, the actual chances of a program identifying this sequence of digits in the data stream or by scraping your IM logs is pretty tiny.

Nonetheless, I never transmit critical information of this nature through any electronic means, be it email or instant messenger system. That's why we still have phones. :-)

Having said that, you should be able to scrub your system fairly effectively to remove any log of your communication in AOL's AIM system.

You don't indicate if you're using Mac or PC, so let's go through the steps for both. I'll start with the Mac because, um, because it's earlier in the alphabet!

On the Mac, start up AOL Instant Messenger, then click on AIM --> Preferences and you'll get to a pretty complex Preferences window. One of the options is "logs":

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) Preferences: Logs

You can see that I opt not to log any of my chats, but it's cool to know that you can log them if you want and encrypt them to keep prying eyes away. That's not what you need, though, so click on "Show AIM Logs" and it'll actually take you to the following directory on your Macintosh:

/ Users / your User id / Library / Logs / AIM / your AIM id's Logs

If that's empty, you should be safe. If not, delete the logs from your discussion with your buddy - or delete all of them to be even more safe.

Now, let's flip to the PC and see how it looks on Windows XP.

First off, I've upgraded to the fancy new Triton release of AIM on my PC, so while I have gained cool stuff like VOIP capabilities, the entire interface has been redone, so everything's different. To delete a chat log in AIM Triton, open up an IM window with your pal then choose Edit --> Clear IM History:

In the earlier releases of AIM, there's a Log Manager you can find on the File menu: one of the options there is to delete your IM logs, and you should be able to find the log file from your discussion and delete it.

Now, send your friend to this article too and ask him or her to go through the appropriate steps to delete the record of your conversation on their end too.

This should clear up any possible problems you may encounter.

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Categorized: Mac OS X Help , Windows Help (Article 5894)
Tagged: aim, america online, aol, aol instant messenger
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Comments

Dave, thanks for answering my question but it didn't quite work out for me. I'm using a PC, Netscape version 7.1 and I only have the following choices under "File"
*New Instant Message
*New
*Away
*Close
*Sign Off and Close
*Import Buddy List
*Export Buddy List
*Sign Off
*Exit

I didn't see Log Manager, and I couldn't find any reference to it under the Netscape Support Center.

Posted by: Jason at February 2, 2006 2:59 PM

my daughter is instant messaging with her friends stuff I should be monitoring. When I come into the room she tells me I can't look at what she is saying. I can't be there all the time so I was hoping you can tell me how I can bring up IM's she has sent after she has signed off. She is now prohibited from IM unless I can see her material.

Posted by: Mark Brooks at March 3, 2006 6:24 PM

Mark, I don't know how you can do that other than by purchasing a monitoring application that would let you secretly save keystrokes, what appears on the screen, etc.

Frankly, I have friends who have prohibited their children from using IM unless the parents can walk in at any time and see what's going on or can read logfiles after the fact.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at March 5, 2006 11:00 PM

i dont understand how to find the log manager. i dont have aim triton so my stuff is set differently.... can you help me?

Posted by: Jenny at November 8, 2006 1:03 PM

This one guy IMed me one day, and i thought he was one of my friends so i accepted his IM. He turned out to be someone i apparently had talked to "earlier". I didn't trust him but was wondering if i could tell if i had talked to him before or if he was someone i knew. Is there any way i could find out?

Posted by: maris at November 28, 2006 7:50 PM

my friend has been hacking into my email account and i really want to delete the AIM mail account before she reads somethings bad. Plus i don't think i should worry about having my emails read, its a privacy thing. Please understand that its an AIM MAIL ACCOUNT AND SCREEN NAME NOT AOL. JUST AIM!!!!

I have already looked at the AOL account deleting but that doesn't help me delete my AIM mail account and Screen name. Please HelP!!!! :)

Posted by: rose at January 8, 2007 10:07 PM

When I'm on my account on AIM, somebody keep on getting on MY account. They know my password, and i changed it about 5 times now, and they keep on knowing my password EVERYTIME! HELP ME

Posted by: Angela at February 17, 2007 8:29 AM

i have an issue. My daughter is getting im'ed by someone not on her buddy list. How do i stop people not on her buddy list fro joining a chat she is part of and how do i find out the identity of thi person?

thanks

Dan

Posted by: dan miller at May 12, 2007 7:06 AM

I said some things over AIM that i regret saying. I've tried to delete the conversation logs to erase my stupid mistake, but every time i check the IM History all out convo's still are there? How can I get rid of this?!

Posted by: Andrew at May 16, 2007 4:52 PM

there this person that is using a mac, he says he can't delete or block my screenname under his buddy list.. says he doesn't have aol. Is he telling the truth? and also he says he never added it.

Posted by: jada at August 6, 2007 12:12 PM

I use Instant messaging in AOL (Not sure if it's AIM, or AOL).
Can I assume there are no logs internally on my computer of any IM's UNLESS I myself save them????

Thanks

Posted by: BC at January 1, 2008 1:02 PM

I IM'd a friend and cut and pasted our conversation into a Word document, now they are saying I manipulated the text. Is there anyway to retrieve this conversation directly from my computer? Please help.

Posted by: Nikki at April 21, 2008 9:40 AM

Nikki, I'm sorry to say that there's really no infallible way to prove that a log file from your computer has not been altered or edited. Many IM clients keep their own logs of your discussions, but, again, you could edit those if you wanted.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 21, 2008 4:01 PM

I <3 AIM

Posted by: KKKKKKKKKKKKKK at June 10, 2008 4:52 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!